Annular collapsible form



Feb. 20, 1934. JOHNSON 1,948,035

ANNULAR COLLAPSIBLE FORM Filed Dec. 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR f gmvr L o/y/vso/v ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. F. JOHNSON 1,948,035

ANNULAR COLLAPSIBLE FORM Filed D60. 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1934. F. JOHNSON ANNULAR COLLAPSIBLE FORM Filed Dec. 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JE IA/sa/v ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1934. F, L. JOHNSON ANNULAR COLLAPSIBLE FORM Filed Dec. 19, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1934 UNITE, 'rnras PATENT OFFICE Application December 19, 1931 Serial No. 582,009

18 Claims.

This invention relates to annular, collapsible forms and particularly drop-shouldered tire building drums such as are used in the manufacture of tires by the so-called flat band method,

51 shoulders of reduced diameter at the-sides of the drum providing bead seats and necessitating collapse of the drum in order that the tire bands may be removed from the building drums to be subsequently shaped and vulcanized.

The general purpose of the invention is to provide a simple, easily operable, annular, collapsible form which will collapse into an extremely small space permitting use of the forms for making tires of very large sectional and very small bead Idiameters with deep tire bead supporting shoulders.

The foregoing and other purposes of the invention are attained in the collapsible drum illustrated in the accompanying drawings and de-. scribed below. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof shown and described.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a section on line ll of Figure 2 showing a collapsible tire building form embodying the invention in its expanded condition;

Figure 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Figure 1, the position of the key section and its support and the adjustable rod which holds it expanded afler the initial step in collapsing the form has been performed being shown in light dot and dash lines;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but reduced in size and showing the key section in full 1 lines in its completely collapsed position and showing in light dot and dash lines the key section, its support and operating bar after an intermediate collapsing operation;

Figure 4 is a sectional View similar to Figure 1, 4') but showing the form in its fully collapsed condition; and

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates a relatively fixed drum section secured -13 on its inner periphery to a bracket 11 extending longitudinally in the central opening of the form to one side thereof as closely as possible to the inner periphery of the form. and thence radially inwardly outside the plane of the form where it 5.;- is formed with a sleeve 11 to be secured upon the shaft 12, the section 10 being preferably re-' movably bolted to the bracket 11 as by bolts 13,

13 extending through a central web 10 whereby said bracket may receive drums of different sizes and shapes. The bracket 11 is so formed so as A drum section 14 is hinged on the end of section to leave a maximum of space in the central'opening of the form to receive the collapsible sections of the form. r The section 10 is preferably so attached to the bracket 11 (see Figure 1) that one end of section 10, (the left as seen in Figure 1) is comparatively close to bracket 11 and the other end (the right as seen in Figure 1) extends to a comparatively great distance about the form from said bracket.

19 adjacent the bracket as at 15 and a section 16 is hinged on the end of section 10 remote from the bracket as at 1'7. The hinged connections at 15 and 17 may comprise hinge plates 18, 18 and 19, 19 respectively secured upon the opposite sides of central webs 14 and 16 respectively as by bolts 20, 20 and 21, 21 respectively, said plates being pivoted on pins at 15 and 17 which are respectively extended through central web 10 and a central lug 10 on the fixed section 10. Section 14 is comparatively long and section 16 is comparatively short whereby these sections may be swung from the positions thereof shown in Figure 1 'to the overlapped, collapsed positions thereof shown in Figure 4. 80 Opposite the fixed section 10 and between the hinged sections 1% and 16 there is a key section 22, the ends of which cooperate with the free ends of sections 14 and 16 to complete the form and which are tapered to provide draft permitting the key section to be first drawn inwardly into the central opening of the form in collapsing the core. The endsof the key section 22 and the free ends of the hinged sections may be provided with interengaging means such as pins 23, 23 and notches 24, 24 to hold the key section and the free ends of the hinged sections in proper registry with each other when the drum is in expanded condition. The key section is preferably not directly opposite the fixed section, that is the centers of these sections arenot along a diametral line. This requires that one of the hinged sections such as 16 be shorter than the other.

The key section 22 is mounted, preferably removably on the free end of an arm 25 as by bolts 26, 26, which arm is pivotally and slidably mounted at one side of the form, preferably on the same side to which bracket 28 extends whereby the other side of the form will be unobstructed. To this end arm 25 is slidably mounted in a groove 27 (see Figure 5) in a bracket 28 pivoted as at 29, 29 onto sleeve 11 the arm 25 being slidably retained in groove 27 by bars 30, 30 which may be secured to bracket'28 by bolts 31, 31; Arm 25 is of sufficient length to support the key section in its normal position in the form and to permit sliding of the key section out of the central opening of the drum after it has been swung therein about pivots 29. A stop such as a pin 32 engageable in a notch 33 in bracket 28 may limit movement of the section 22 into the central opening of the drum so that it may swing outwardly into its proper position in the expanded drum and a stop 34 engageable in a notch 35 in the bracket 28 may be provided to limit sliding of the key section outwardly of the central opening of the drum.

The end of arm 25 presented to the unobstructed side of the drum may have means provided for attaching an operating handle bar as, for example, means defining a socket 36 in one side of which is a projection provided by a pin 37, a handle bar 38 being adapted to fit in said socket and having a cut away portion at 39 permitting the inner end of said bar to pass said projection when inserted in one position of the bar, a circumferential groove 46 being formed in the bar whereby when the bar is rotated in said socket from said position the pin 37 engages in the groove 40 and releasably locks the handle bar to the end of arm 25.

To hold the drum in expanded condition, a longitudinally adjustable supporting arm may be pivoted by a yoke 41 on bracket 11 as at 42, 42, this arm including a tubular member 43 threaded as at 44 and a rod 45 threaded into the tubular member and adapted to be rotated by a sleeve 45 secured to rod i5 and slidably and rotatably mounted on member 43 as at 46 the outer surface of the sleeve preferably being knurled as at 47 to facilitate turning thereof by hand, the outer end of rod 45 being adapted to be engaged in a socket 48 in the under side of arm 25 (Figure 2). The adjustable arm may be descreased in length and swung downwardly to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 when it is desired to collapse the form.

A notch may be provided as at .9 in the upper side of sleeve 11 to receive a corner of the bracket 28 (see Figure 2) when the drum is expanded to assist in rigidifying the expanded drum structure.

In operation with the drum expanded the tire is built thereon as will be understood. When the building of the tire is completed the adjustable arm 41, 43, 45 is shortened to disengage the upper end thereof from arm 25 whereupon the adjustable arm is swung downwardly out of the way. The handle bar 38 is engaged in socket 36 and arm 25 swung inwardly, withdrawing the key section into the central opening of the form to the dash and dot line position shown in Figure 2. The arm 25 carrying the key section is next slid out of the central opening of the form to the dot and dash line position shown in Figure 3 and then may be allowed to swing down to the full line position shown in that figure, handle 38 being removed. Finally the hinged sect-ions are swung inwardly, first section 16, then section 14, to their overlapping collapsed positions in the central opening of the form as shown in Figure 4. By reference to Figure 4, it being understood that the key section is out of the plane of the form, it will be apparent that the remaining sections collapse into an extremely small space, one sec tion moving completely across the axis of the drum and the other extending across the of the drum in collapsed position, the maximum dimension of the collapsed sections being the length of the fixed section.

Modifications or" the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. An annular collapsible form for use in the building of tires, said form comprising a relatively fixed section, means supporting said section extending to one side or" said form to leave the control opening of the form unobstructed at the axis thereof, a key section opposite the fixed section, intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, and means supporting the key section whereby it may be withdrawn radially inwardly into the central opening of the form across the axis of the form and thence axially to one side of the form out of said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in the central opening or" the form after said key section is so withdrawn.

2. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn.

3. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slid ably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, and means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

4. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, and means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn.

5. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section-ya bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending to one side of said form'to leave the central opening of the forin unobstructed, said bracket being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged ontothe fixed section and cooperating with the key section, and means for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form across the axis thereof and then axially to a position out side said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn.

6. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section,

means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn, and

means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

7. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending to one side of said form to leave the central opening thereof unobstructed and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form across the axis thereof and then axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn, and means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

8. An annular collapsible form for use" in building tires including a fixed section. a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted. said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the cenral opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including akey section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central open,

ing of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, said arm being slidable upon said second bracket, stop means at the ends of the arm to rma sliding movement thereof, and means defining a shoulder on said first bracket engageable by a corner of said second bracket when said key section is expanded in the form.

9. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extendng axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form.

including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, s id arm being slidable upon said second bracket, stop means at the ends or" the arm to limit sliding movement thereof, means defining a shoulder on said first bracket engageable by a corner of said second bracket when said key section is expanded in the form, and means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

10. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, and means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening or the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, said arm being slidable upon said second bracket, and. stop means at the ends of the arm to limit sliding movementthereoi.

11. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires includng a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said -form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central openngof the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central op ning of form, said arm being slidable upon said second bracket, stop means at the ends of the a m to limit sliding movement thereof, means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

12. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery or said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hin ed sections being toldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening the form, said arm being slidable upon secon bracket, an means a shoulder sai first bracket engageable by a corner of said second bracket when said key section is expanded in the form.

13. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires includin a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixer section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside central opening of the form and thence radially inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section, means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon said bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said. central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket provided upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, said arm being slidable upon said second bracket, means defining a shoulder on said first bracket engageable by a corner of said second bracket when said key section is expanded in the form, and means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position.

14. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket extending axially adjacent the inner periphery of said form to a point outside the central opening of the form and thence radiallr, inwardly and being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, and means comprising pivotally and slidably mounted upon bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of th form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening across the axis of the form when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said arm comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, said arm being slidable upon said second bracket.

15. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which said fixed section is mounted, said bracket being adapted to be secured on a shaft, said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and cooperating with the ke section, and means comprising an arm pivotally and slidably mounted upon bracket for supporting the key section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening of the form and thence axially to a position outside said central opening, said hinged sections being :foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn, the support for said comprising a second bracket pivoted upon said first bracket outside the central opening of the form, said arm being slidable upon second bracket.

16. An annular collapsible form for use in building tires including a fixed section, a bracket upon which fixed section is mounted, bracket being adapted to be secured on a said form including a key section opposite the fixed section and intermediate sections hinged onto the fixed section and cooperating with the key section, means for supporting the k y section whereby the latter is adapted to be withdrawn into the central opening or" the form then ally to a position outside said central opening on the side thereof from which said bracket extends, said hinged sections being foldable to overlapped positions in said central opening when said key section is thus withdrawn, and means adapted releasably to engage the key section to hold it in expanded position, said supporting means comprising a longitudinally adjustable arm pivotally supported by said bracket.

17. An annular collapsible tire building form including a relatively fixed section, a bracket for supporting the same extending axially out of the central opening of the form adjacent the innor periphery of said fixed section, a key section opposite, but not directly opposite, the fixed sections, and intermediate sections hinged on the fixed section and adapted to cooperate with the key section, one of hinged sections being shorter than the other, said key section having a mounting whereby it is movable inwardly into the central opening of the form and thence a Tlally to one side out of said central opening, said hinged sections being folda. inwardly, the

shorter first, to overlapped positions in the central opening of the form across the axis of the core.

18. An annular collapsible tire building form including a relatively fixed section, a key section opposite, but not directly opposite, the fixed sections, and intermediate sections hinged on the f fixed section and adapted to cooperate with the key section, one of said hinged sections being shorter than the other, key section having a mounting whereby it is movable inwardly into the central opening of the form and thence axially to one side out of said central opening, said hinged sections being foldable inwardly, the shorter first, to overlapped positions in the central opening of the form.

FRANK L. JOHNSON.

Cir 

